Page 78 of Indulge
She nods slowly, eyes darkening. “And if I disobey?”
“Then I remind you who you’re dealing with.”
Her breath catches, but she doesn’t look away. If anything, she steps closer until the heat between us hums.
“So this is the clean slate?” she asks.
“This is the only one we get.”
Her lips part as she nods, and for the first time, it feels like the tension between us isn’t pulling us apart, it’s holding us there.
There’s still that unspoken tension between us. Rowan.
“I’m not asking you to stop whatever it is you have with my brother,” I tell her.
Even if the words stab me from the inside. I have no right. I’m not stopping them; I just want my own chance to show her what I could give her.
She smiles weakly and nods.
“Isn’t that going to be awkward? Between all of us?” she asks.
She’s clearly never been in a situation like this. Me and Rowan share. Except this time, there are feelings involved, and I’m not sure where this road leads us.
“I don’t know, Bella. I really don’t know. But the choice always rests with you. It’s you that has the power over both of us.”
I let my hand fall away, not because I want to, but because if I don’t, I won’t stop.
“Go get changed, Princess. We’ll start over at dinner.”
She grins faintly, that wicked spark flashing again. “Should I wear your shirt this time?”
I shake my head, fighting the smile tugging at my mouth. I want to tear this one right off her. But jealousy isn’t what I’m trying to show her.
“Wear one of your own, or nothing. Either works. Just not… his.”
Her eyes flicker up at me, that mix of defiance and something softer.
I lift my hand, running the backs of my fingers along her throat, not squeezing, not yet, just a whisper of contact. A warning. A promise.
Her breath hitches, the pulse beneath my fingertips beating wild.
“I’ve seen you twice now,” I murmur, leaning in closer. “Once with my brother, once with that girl at the party.”
Her lips part, but no words come.
“I’ve watched you fall apart for someone else, Princess.” I tilt my head, tracing that delicate column of her neck with my thumb. “Next time, it’ll be for me.”
With that, I release her and step back.
She turns to leave, and for a moment I just watch her go, the chaos she brings, the quiet she leaves behind.
Maybe this time, I’ll stop running from both.
37
ROWAN
I don’t think I’ve ever been this early for a shipment, but the thought of sitting in a car with Reggie for an hour made my stomach churn.
